Eric Wedge told the Seattle Mariners that he will not return to manage the team in 2014.

Wedge later told reporters that he and upper management didn't see eye to eye on the direction of the team. The Mariners' roster has gotten much younger over the past two seasons as the club began to replace unproductive veterans.

Eric Wedge missed a month this season after suffering a mild stroke in July. (AP Photo)

"It's got to the point where it's painfully obvious to me that I just wasn't going to be able to move forward with this organization," Wedge was quoted as saying . "We see things differently and we talked about it but it just got to the point where I couldn't continue to move forward. Ultimately, I didn't feel like I could continue to manage here with the circumstances the way they are."

Seattle, which has never reached the World Series, entered the final weekend 70-89, assured of its fourth straight losing season. Seattle was 212-271 with Wedge in charge entering Friday night.

Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik said the club had every intention of bringing Wedge back for 2014.

"I was looking forward to having Eric back but through his series of thought processes he decided that this wasn't going to work," Zduriencik said.

Wedge indicated the team had approached him last offseason about a one-year extension but he didn't feel that was a "proper endorsement" when trying to rebuild a team. Wedge complained this week that he felt he was left "hanging out there" by the organization on his status for next year.

"I thought there weren't any issues that weren't workable, at least from my standpoint," Zduriencik said.

Seattle was on the fringes of contention in July, winning eight straight games, when Wedge suffered a minor stroke.

He was helped off the field during batting practice on July 22 and was rushed to a hospital. He was diagnosed with a mild stroke the next day and began a monthlong recovery process that called for changes in his diet, exercise and dealing with the stress of his occupation. Robby Thompson filled in while Wedge was out.